Metalworking first came to the British Isles during the Bronze Age. At first, the prehistoric people used copper, but by 2,200 BC, bronze, an alloy made of copper and tin, was being crafted into weapons, jewelry and household goods in Britain. In fact, the British Isles were an important source of tin all over the Bronze Age world.
Britain’s Long History of Working in Metal
From the tin mines of prehistory to the iron mills of the Industrial Revolution, Britain has long been a leader when it comes to metal. In fact, by 1875, Britain produced 47% of the world’s pig and 40% of the world’s steel. Of that steel, 40% was exported to the fledgling United States, to build its transcontinental railroad system.
Archaeologists have long been deeply impressed with the spectacular metal work artifacts of the British Early Bronze Age, which spanned from 2,500 to 2,000 BC. Thousands of exquisitely crafted swords, shields, jewelry, and ritual objects have been discovered in bogs all over the British Isles. Today, you can see many of these historic pieces of craftsmanship in museums all over the world.
Metalwork in Great Britain Today
Today, working in metal in the U.K. takes many forms; from the lifelike scrap metal sculptures crafted by British sculptor John Kennedy Brown, to the very practical metal fabricators all over the country. Likewise, crafting metal today span the gamut from working in both mild and stainless steel, aluminum, and sheet metal fabrication. The talented craftsmen here can bring any idea to life in metal.
For all of your large and small metalworking projects, contact SAMS Fabrications Ltd.
